Thermal Hairbrush

ABSTRACT

The thermal brush is used with a hair dryer. The brush includes an elongated bristle retaining core which is mounted at an interior location within a cage forward by a plurality of metal rods. The bristles extend outboard from the core beyond the rod cage and the bristles and the cage form a hourglass shape (a dual frustoconical shape with smaller radial portions adjacent each other). Sometimes, a central region with a constant radial dimension is disposed intermediate the larger radial segments of the cage and bristle brush periphery. At one end, the core and the elongated cage are maintained in a spaced apart relationship by a terminal end cap. A cap at the handle end of the brush also holds the cage and core. The spacing between the metal rods is important as the diameter of the rods.

The present invention relates to a thermal hairbrush to be used in conjunction with a hair dryer when a user blow dries his or her hair.

Prior art thermal hairbrushes sometimes include aluminum tubes with a plurality of holes therein through which extend brush bristles. Other prior art brushes have radially extending ridges, extending from a brush core, and a plurality of brush bristles extending from the outer peripheral surfaces of the ridges.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal hairbrush which performs significantly better than preexisting thermal brushes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a thermal hairbrush utilizing spaced apart steel, aluminum or metal rods which form a cage about a bristle retaining core. Since the bristles extend through the wire rod cage, the spacing between the wire rods is important to permit hot air from the hair dryer to flow pass the rods thereby regulating the temperature of the rods. Also, the rod spacing should not be too large to catch hair between the rods.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a thermal hairbrush wherein the diameter of the rods is within a certain predetermined range to eliminate concentration of heat on the rods which causes damage to the hair.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bristle periphery formed as an hourglass shape to better contact and massage the scalp of the user and better control the hair subject to blow dry styling. The hourglass shape bristles generally match the contour of the user's scalp.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an hourglass shaped wire rod cage which stabilizes the radially extending bristles and generally matches the contour of a person's head.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a thermal hairbrush having a radial differential depth of between 5.0 millimeters and 10.0 millimeters to provide better traction to the hair subject to blow dry styling, better finish to the hair and hair ends and to achieve a better effect on the hair roots. The depth, that is the difference between the maximum dimension of the hourglass shape and the nominal or minimal dimension of the hourglass shape, permits better styling of blown dry hair and better control of the hair during the blow drying process.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a thermal brush which reduces styling time and blow drying time by approximately 36% compared with prior art thermal brushes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The thermal brush is adopted for use with a hair dryer and enables the user to blow dry his or her hair. The brush includes an elongated bristle retaining core which is mounted at an interior location within a cage formed by a plurality of metal rods. A plurality of bristles extend substantially radially outboard of the bristle retaining core. The ends of the bristles, which extend past the rod cage, form a hourglass shape which is generally described as a dual substantially frustoconical bristle brush periphery. The smaller radial portions of each frustoconical bristle brush segment are adjacent each other. In one embodiment, there is a central longitudinal region having a constant radial dimension and this central region is intermediate the distal frustoconical bristle brush segment and the proximal frustoconical bristle brush segment. The proximal brush segment is adjacent the handle of the brush. The metal rod cage, radially below the bristles, is also generally hourglass shaped and has a dual, substantially frustoconical cage shape. The diameter of the dual frustoconical cage shape is smaller than the dual frustoconical bristle brush periphery. The bristle retaining core and the elongated cage are maintained in a spaced apart relationship by a terminal end cap at one axial end of the brush. The brush handle, at the other axial end of the bristle retaining core and cage, also holds the cage and the bristle retaining core in a spaced relationship. The spacing between the metal rods is a predetermined distance to enhance performance of the brush. Further, the rods have a certain diameter dimensions to enhance performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B diagrammatically illustrate a front elevational view of the thermal brush;

FIGS. 2A and 3 diagrammatically illustrate an exploded view of various parts or components of the thermal brush and FIGS. 2B, 2C and 2D diagrammatically illustrate end cap and rod attachments;

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the generally frustoconical cage for the brush;

FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates the generally frustoconical bristle brush periphery and bristle core;

FIGS. 6A through 6E diagrammatically illustrate rod and cage spacing and sizes;

FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the thermal brush from perspective A-A in FIG. 1A;

FIGS. 8 and 9 diagrammatically illustrate rod and cage spacing and sizes which are inferior to the principles of the present invention; and,

FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates the shallow frustoconically shaped rod and cage for the inventive thermal brush.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a thermal hairbrush adopted for use with a hot air blowing hair dryer and enables a user to blow dry his or her hair. Similar numerals designate similar items throughout the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B diagrammatically illustrate a front elevational view of the thermal brush. The thermal brush 10 includes an elongated bristle retaining core 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the bristle retaining core 12 is a twisted wire configuration wherein a plurality of bristles 14 extend substantially radially outboard or away from core 12. In some sense, the bristles extend in a somewhat random fashion away from core 12. However, as explained later, cage 30 assists in maintaining the circumferential position of the bristles 14 by limiting circumferential movement of the bristles about the core 12. See, for example, FIG. 7.

Bristles 14, preferably made of nylon, have terminal ends 16 and the plurality of bristle terminal ends form a substantially frustoconical bristle brush periphery. The general hourglass shape is a dual frustoconical bristle periphery formed by a distal frustoconical bristle brush periphery segment 18 and a proximal bristle brush periphery segment 22. Items closer to handle 42 are “proximal” items. In a preferred embodiment, longitudinal central region 20 has a common or uniform diameter (a constant radius). In other embodiments, the radially smaller ends of each frustoconical bristle brush periphery segment 18, 22 are proximate each other. In FIG. 1A, the smaller radial portions of each frustoconical bristle brush segment 18, 22 are adjacent or nearly adjacent to each other and constant radial segment 20 is intermediate frustoconical brush segment 18 and frustoconical brush segment 22.

An elongated wire cage 30 is formed by a plurality of metal rods 32. FIGS. 2A and 4 better illustrate cage 30 and metal rods 32. The cage has an hourglass shape which is more specifically described as a dual substantial frustoconical cage shape. The diameter of the smaller radial portion of the distal frustoconical cage segment is adjacent or near the smaller radial portion of the proximal frustoconical cage segment. The cage also has a constant radius central region. The plurality of bristles 14 extend through the dual frustoconical cage 30. A terminal end cap 40 maintains the spaced radial relationship between bristle core 12 and elongated cage 32. End cap 40 is at the most distal end of hairbrush 10.

Hairbrush 10 also includes a brush handle 42, 46 and a handle end segment 44. Handle end segment 44 retains the coextensive terminal ends of both bristle retaining core 12 and the terminal ends of the hourglass shaped cage 30 in a spaced apart relationship. In a similar manner to terminal end cap 40, the brush handle end cap maintains the radial spaced apart relationship of cage 30 with respect to bristle retaining core 12. In a preferred embodiment, handle 46 portion is a soft, compressable material. Other embodiments may include a hard, plastic handle or other grip elements.

FIGS. 2A and 3 diagrammatically illustrate an exploded view of various parts or components of the thermal brush. Finished end cap 40 includes internal mounting element 31. A radially central aperture in mounting end cap 31 mounts the distal terminal end 13 of core 12 into the end cap mount 31 and into finished end cap 40. Further, the coextensive terminal ends 33 of rod 32 forming wire cage 30 also are mounted into end cap mount 31. Therefore, terminal end 13 of core 12 is generally coextensive with the axial terminal ends 33 of the rods 32.

In a similar manner, proximal terminal end 15 of core 12 is radially coextensive with terminal ends 35 of wire cage 30. Proximal mounting end piece 45 retains terminal ends 35 of wire cage 30 in a spaced apart radial relationship as compared with terminal end 15 of core 12. End mount 45 is mounted into finished end segment 44 of handle 42, 46 in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 2B, 2C and 2D diagrammatically illustrate end cap and rod attachments. Finished end cap 40 has an inboard side with a radially central cavity 80 within which is disposed the axial end 13 of the core 12. A ring cavity 82 is formed along its radially inboard peripheral edge. The a ring cavity 82 may be a full peripheral ring or a series of ring segments, much like gear teeth cavities. The ring cavity leads to an inboard radial wall surface 88. Peripheral ring cavity 82 and inboard wall 88 interface, preferably with an interference fit, rod mounting end cap rod mount 31. Rod mounting end ring 31 in FIG. 2C includes a longitudinally extending lip 84 that interfaces with peripheral ring cavity 82 and the radially extending lip 86 of the rod mount interfaces with inboard wall 88. Additionally, the finished end cap 40 may have radially inboard protruding keys (not shown) from surface 88 which interlock with peripherally disposed, radial keyways 87 on the rod mounting end ring 31. As is common, the key may protrude from rod mounting end ring 31 and the keyway may be formed in the finished end cap 40. Further, radially disposed locking pins or rods may be placed in radial cavities 88. The pins may lock the ring 31 in the end cap 40. With respect to FIG. 2D, the rod end segments 33 are disposed in cavities in rod mounting end ring 31. Since rod mounting end ring 35 is generally similar to rod end mount 31, the longitudinally inboard end of handle end segment 44 adjacent the frustoconical rods has a similar construct as does end cap 40. End mount 45 is similar to end mount 31. The rod ends 33, 35 fit into end mounts 31, 45 by insertion of the rod ends into cavities 90. An interference fit is preferred. Adhesive or heat welding may be employed to secure attachment.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the general frustoconical cage 30 for thermal brush 10 shown in FIG. 1A. Mounting end caps 31, 45 maintain the positioning of the radially larger ends of each frustoconical cage shape. To enhance mounting, terminal ends 33, 35 may have end segments 33a to facilitate attachment to end cap mounts 31, 45. The end segment distances are relatively small compared to the elongated, longitudinal length D-10 of cage 30 and bristle retaining core 12. The following tables show preferred dimensions for the thermal brush.

Cage Table Span Angle A-30 = 163 degrees Rod diameter 1.5 mm-2.0 mm Cage Spacing Table Brush dia. #Rods Space Angle Rod Space 32a xx xx xx 4.5 mm min'm 22 18 xx 4.7 35 mm 20 18 5.5 mm (approx) 43 24 15 5.6 53 32 11.3 5.2 63 40 xx 4.9 xx xx xx 5.7 mm max'm Rod Depth Table  5.0 mm min'm (approx.) 10.0 mm max'm (approx.)

The angular span A-30, which is the angular difference between the proximal and distal larger radial portions of each frustoconical cage segment (generally similar to frustoconical brush segments 18, 22), should at least exceed 150 degrees and should be less than about 170 degrees. The preferred span is 163 degrees. The diameter of the steel rods 32 should be no less than 1.2 mm and no greater than 2.5 mm. Tests have shown that rods with smaller diameters do not absorb the blow dryer heat and then retransmit or give up the heat well to the hair of the user during the blow drying operation. However, rods larger than 2.5 mm absorb too much heat and therefore improperly overheat or thermally destroy the hair subject to the blow drying operation. Rods 32 forming cage 30 are spaced a predetermined distance apart thereby limiting circumferential movement of the bristles 14 about cage 30. Preferably, the space between the rods should be no smaller than 4 mm and no larger than 6 mm. This aspect is explained further in conjunction with FIGS. 8 and 9.

With respect to the hourglass shape, the shape can be either a substantially frustoconical shape with little or no common radial central region 30, or a substantially frustoconical shape with a flat bottom with a common radial central region 30 wherein the increasingly radially larger portions of the frustoconical shapes are generally straight line angles. The generally hourglass shape may be two frustoconical shapes with a longitudinal, constant radius central region or two frustoconical shapes without a longitudinally central, common radius central region. If a central region with a common radius 20 is employed, the central region is generally in the longitudinal center of core 12 and bristle brush periphery shape 14, that is, approximately midway between distal terminal end cap 40 and proximal end cap 44. The longitudinal length D-20 of central region 20 should be no larger than 30% the entire longitudinal span D-10 of the bristle core 12.

FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates the generally frustoconical bristle brush periphery and the bristle core 12. The common radial central region 20 has a longitudinal length D-20.

FIGS. 6A through 6E diagrammatically illustrate rod and cage spacing and sizes. Rod space 32A should be no smaller than 4.5 mm and should be no larger 5.7 mm as noted in the Cage Spacing Table. Exemplary brush diameters are listed in the Cage Spacing Table as is the number of rods. Therefore, rod count 24 in FIG. 6A is the fourth listing in the Cage Spacing Table. Cages in FIGS. 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E have 18, 20, 32 and 40 rods which are maintained in a spaced apart relationship such that the spacing between each rod is no smaller than 4.5 mm and no larger than 5.7 mm. The Cage Spacing Table lists the rod space for brush diameter E-10 shown in FIG. 6A. The Cage Spacing Table shows brush diameters (dimension E-10) of 22, 35, 43, 53 and 63 mm.

FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the thermal brush 10 from the perspective of view line A-A in FIG. 1A. As noted in FIG. 7, rod 32 i compared with adjacent rod 32 ii maintains the circumferential positioning of a group of bristles extending radially between rods 32 i and 32 ii from central bristle core 12. Handle end cap 34 is shown in FIG. 7. The rods 32 and cage 30 limit circumferential movement of the bristles in the direction shown by double headed arrow 8 when brush 10 is used in a blow drying operation.

FIGS. 8 and 9 diagrammatically illustrate rod and cage spacing and sizes which are inferior to the principles of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows a rod cage formed of a plurality of rods 50, 52 having a rod space 54 that is greater than 5.7 mm. In this situation, hair 60 gets wound about and between adjacent rods thereby tangling the hair. Hair temporarily trapped in large rod gap 54 will overheat due to prolonged contact with the heated rods of the cage. If severe hair wrap occurs, the user's hair may be cut to withdraw the tangled brush. In FIG. 9, the rod spacing 62 is smaller than 4.5 mm thereby traping and limiting air flow from the hair dryer in the direction shown by arrow 64. Since air flow is blocked, the rods heat up to a greater degree and singe or impart too much heat to the hair subject to the blow drying operation. The Failure Table set forth below shows the improper rod number and rod spacing for FIGS. 8 and 9.

Failure Table FIG. #Rods Rod Space 8 15 7.3 mm 9 40 2.7 mm

FIG. 10 shows that the radial distance between the larger radial portions of each frustoconical cage segment and the smallest radial portion of the cage. A range of more than 5 mm and less than 12 mm is used. Preferably, the maximum radial difference or depth is 10 mm.

The span angle A-30, in FIG. 4, is preferably a 163 degree angle. The span angle improves the performance of the brush by minimizing the pulling of hair during the blow-drying process. It also minimizes the snagging of hair by the brush. This span angle allows the brush to pick up and hold the hair better on the brush. It also allows the stylist to hold more hair in the center of the brush.

As for the number and diameter of steel wire rods, the steel wire rods in the brush should have a minimum diameter of 1.5 mm and a maximum diameter of 2 mm. This rod size is ideal for performance of the thermal brush. The space between the wire cage rods is within the 4.5 mm to 5.7 mm range because this rod spacing permits the bristles to extend through and fit correctly in between the steel wire rods. The rod spacing also allows the hot air of the hair dryer to flow through the rod cage. Also, the spacing permits cooling of the rods. If the rod space diameter is reduced, the rods will not have a good contact with the hair. If the space in between the rods is bigger than 5.7 mm, experiments show that brush performance is reduced, which results in poor styling of the hair. If the rod diameter is larger than 2 mm, the rods get too hot and tend to bum or damage the hair due too much heat from the blow dryer. Larger diameter rods also block the flow of the air through the rods. This blockage causes a concentration of dryer heat in the rods thereby causing damage to the hair.

For each diameter of brush, experiments have shown an ideal number of rods with good rod spacing. See Cage Spacing Table above. The rod diameter and rod spacing and rod count in relation to the size of the brush results in a good radial angle or space between adjacent rods. The radial angle and the rod spacing are important because these angles and spaces insure the success of the wire mesh brushes.

The distance between adjacent rods influences the operation of the brush. The distance between the rods should be between 4.5 to 5.7 mm. Under 4.5 mm, the wire rods are too close. If the rods are too close, the nylon bristle fibers will not fit in between the rods and the air from the hair dryer will not flow through freely. This causes the rods to overheat and transfer an unacceptable amount of heat to the hair. When the distance is larger than 5.7 mm, the rod spacing is too large and the brush does not work correctly. The ideal diameters of brush and the rod spacing are listed above in the Cage Spacing Table. FIGS. 8 and 9 show what happens rod spacing is under 4.5 mm or larger than 5.7 mm.

Tests have been conducted on the foregoing new brush designs as compared with other brushes, such as the aluminum thermal brush.

A shallow radial depth, less than 5 mm (see FIG. 10), gives a very poor result in the blow drying process. The brush does not hold the hair well. The hair slips off. The finishing of the hair ends is poor with this brush. The hair ends slip off giving a bad finish. The brush has poor traction. The stylist has difficulty working near the hair roots of the hair. Due to the shallow depth, there is inadequate tension at the hair roots giving a bad styling result.

The new wire brush design has substantially more depth (FIG. 10) and the optimum depth is 10 mm which gives a much better result in all aspects, better traction, better finish to the hair ends, better effect on the roots etc., better overall styling, better control of the blow dry process.

The respect to temperature control, thermal brushes with perforated tubes reach very high temperatures due heated air from the hair dryer. High temperatures can cause damage to the hair. The hair can burn or break. The prior art brushes have a warning which says that they can get too hot and burn. The perforated tubes get hot inside the tube. The air circulation through the tube or cylinder is bad.

The newly designed thermal brushes, with the hourglass shaped wire cage typically have wire rod surface temperatures between 85 to 90 degrees centigrade. This temperature is substantially lower than the 100 to 110 centigrade temperature of prior art brushes. The moderate temperature of the new brush gives an excellent result without exposing the hair to extra damaging heat. The heat flows through the open space between the rods. This prevents concentration of the heat on the rids thereby minimizing the possible damage to the hair from the extra heat.

The blow drying time for the new brush is better than the prior art brushes. The cage and rod system of the present invention allows for a much better air flow during the styling and blow drying process. The air flows faster through the rods. This permits a faster drying of the hair. This reduces the exposure of the hair to the direct heat of the dryer and also, since the temperature of the rods is limited to a lower temperature range, the lower rod temperature doe not adversely effect the hair during the blow dry operation. The time needed for a good blow drying and styling is reduced by 36% compared with a normal thermal brush with perforated tube.

The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 

1. A thermal hairbrush adapted for use with a hair dryer and enabling a user to blow dry his or her hair comprising: an elongated bristle retaining core; a plurality of bristles extending substantially radially outboard of said bristle retaining core, said bristles having bristle ends which terminate to form a dual substantially frustoconical bristle brush periphery wherein respective smaller radial portions of each frustoconical bristle brush segment are adjacent and respective larger radial portions of each frustoconical bristle brush segment are at opposing ends of said bristle brush periphery; a plurality of metal rods forming an elongated cage, said cage radially spaced apart from and disposed about said elongated bristle retaining core, said cage having a dual substantially frustoconical cage shape wherein the diameter of said dual frustoconical cage shape is smaller than said dual frustoconical bristle brush periphery such that said plurality of bristles extend through said dual frustoconical cage; a terminal end cap at one axial end of the brush retaining coextensive terminal ends of said elongated bristle retaining core and said elongated cage; and a brush handle at the other axial end retaining coextensive other terminal ends of both said bristle retaining core and said cage, said terminal end cap and said handle maintaining the spaced apart relationship of said cage with respect to said bristle retaining core.
 2. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 1 wherein said metal rods of said elongated cage are spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other thereby limiting circumferential movement of said plurality of bristles extending through said cage.
 3. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 1 wherein said metal rods of said elongated cage are spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other, the rod spacing being no smaller than 4 millimeters and no larger than 6 millimeters.
 4. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said metal rods have a minimum diameter of 1.2 millimeters and a maximum diameter of 2.5 millimeters.
 5. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dual frustoconical cage shape of said elongated cage is one shape from the group of shapes including: a dual substantially frustoconical shape wherein respective smaller radial portions of each frustoconical cage segment are proximate each other and respective increasingly larger radial portions of said frustoconical cage segments extend opposite each other; and, a dual substantially frustoconical shape with a longitudinal central region, said central region being intermediate respective smaller radial portions of each frustoconical cage segment and having a constant radial dimension thereat, said central region being central with respect to said elongated bristle retaining core.
 6. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 5 wherein the radial difference between the larger radial portions of each frustoconical cage segment and the smallest radial portion of said cage is more than 5 millimeters and less than 12 millimeters.
 7. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 5 wherein the angular span between respective larger radial portions of each frustoconical bristle brush segment exceeds 150 degrees and is less than 170 degrees.
 8. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rods are steel and said bristles are nylon.
 9. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dual frustoconical bristle brush shape is one brush shape from the group of brush shapes including: a dual substantially frustoconical shape wherein respective smaller radial portions of each frustoconical cage segment are proximate each other and respective increasingly larger radial portions of said frustoconical cage segments extend opposite each other; and, a dual substantially frustoconical shape with a longitudinal central region, said central region being intermediate the respective smaller radial portions of each frustoconical bristle brush segment and having a constant radial dimension thereat, said central region being central with respect to said elongated bristle retaining core.
 10. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 9 wherein the radial difference between larger radial portions of each frustoconical bristle brush segment and the smallest radial portion of said bristle brush segment is more than 5 millimeters and less than 12 millimeters.
 11. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 5 wherein said dual frustoconical bristle brush shape is one brush shape from the group of brush shapes including: a dual substantially frustoconical shape wherein respective smaller radial portions of each frustoconical cage segment are proximate each other and respective increasingly larger radial portions of said frustoconical cage segments extend opposite each other; and, a dual substantially frustoconical shape with a longitudinal central region, said central region being intermediate the respective smaller radial portions of each frustoconical bristle brush segment and having a constant radial dimension thereat, said central region being central with respect to said elongated bristle retaining core.
 12. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 11 wherein said metal rods of said elongated cage are steel and are spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other thereby limiting circumferential movement of said plurality of bristles extending through said cage.
 13. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 12 wherein said metal rods of said elongated cage are spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other, said rod spacing being no smaller than 4 millimeters and no larger than 6 millimeters.
 14. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 13 wherein each of said metal rods have a minimum diameter of 1.2 millimeters and a maximum diameter of 2.5 millimeters.
 15. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 14 wherein the radial difference between larger radial portions of each frustoconical cage segment and the smallest radial portion of said cage is more than 5 millimeters and less than 12 millimeters.
 16. The thermal brush as claimed in claim 15 wherein the angular span between respective larger radial portions of each frustoconical bristle brush segment exceeds 150 degrees and is less than 170 degrees.
 17. A thermal hairbrush adapted for use with a hair dryer and enabling a user to blow dry his or her hair comprising: an elongated bristle retaining core; a plurality of bristles extending outwardly from said bristle retaining core, said bristles having bristle terminal ends forming a dual substantially frustoconical bristle brush periphery wherein respective smaller radial portions of each frustoconical bristle brush segment are adjacent; a plurality of metal rods forming an elongated cage spaced apart and away from said bristle retaining core, said cage having a dual substantially frustoconical cage shape wherein the diameter of said dual frustoconical cage shape is smaller than said dual frustoconical bristle brush periphery such that said plurality of bristles extend through said dual frustoconical cage; a terminal end cap retaining, at one axial end of the brush, coextensive ends of said elongated bristle retaining core and the rods of said elongated cage; and a brush handle formed at the other axial end of the brush retaining coextensive other terminal ends of both said elongated bristle retaining core and said rods of said elongated cage. 